Ranking the five World Cup group stage matches headed to Philly next summer

Here's how Croatia, Curaçao, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, and Ivory Coast stack up against superpowers Brazil and France.

France's Kylian Mbappé will be one of the soccer superstars playing World Cup games in Philadelphia.Read moreChristophe Ena / AP

Published Dec. 8, 2025, 3:42 p.m. ET

When the World Cup arrives in town next summer, diehard soccer fans and casual followers will tune in to see the action. If you’re one who doesn’t know everything about all the teams that will play at Lincoln Financial Field, we’re here to help.

Here’s our ranking of the five group games Philadelphia will host.

5. Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast

Group E, June 25, 7 p.m.

Curaçao will be one of this World Cup’s great underdog stories. The former Dutch territory leveraged its diaspora in the Netherlands to recruit talented players like brothers Leandro and Juninho Bacuna. Their manager is a Dutch legend, Dick Advocaat.

The Blue Wave will probably be routed by Germany and Ecuador in their first two group games, so this could be their tournament farewell. Hopefully, though, they will get a nice send-off from a city that loves underdogs.

Ivory Coast is led by midfielder Franck Kessié and forwards Amad Diallo and Sébastien Haller. You’ll also want to keep an eye on 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande. He lived for a few years in the United States as a young teen, and played high school and youth club soccer in Florida before turning pro in Europe in November 2024.

The other upside to this matchup is that since the teams’ fan bases aren’t huge, there’s a chance local fans will be able to get tickets for it. Perhaps only a small chance, because there will be huge demand — and exorbitant prices — for every World Cup game no matter who’s in it.

4. Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador

Group E, June 14, 7 p.m.

Picking the game to rank fourth was even harder than picking the game to rank fifth. It came down to star power vs. potential atmosphere in the stands, and the tie went against the atmosphere.

So we apologize to Ivory Coast for putting both of its games at the bottom. We also apologize to the tens of thousands of Ecuador fans who will ensure that Philadelphia’s first men’s World Cup game is a fast sellout. La Tri’s faithful have a long track record of traveling all over the U.S. when their team plays here, and creating boisterous atmospheres.

They will create another sea of yellow at the Linc, for a team that not only has a strong chance of advancing but of winning its group.

Ecuador’s back line consists of Pervis Estupiñán, Piero Hincapié, Willian Pacho, and Angelo Preciado. Moisés Caicedo is a superstar in midfield, Kendry Paez is one of the world’s most-hyped young phenoms, and veteran Enner Valencia finishes the job up top.

3. Croatia vs. Ghana

Group L, June 27, 5 p.m.

We said players break ties, and no one’s better for that than legendary Croatian playmaker Luka Modrić. He will be atop the marquee for this game, and he won’t just draw Croatia fans in their famed red-and-white checkerboard jerseys. Anyone who has relished watching his club career with Real Madrid and AC Milan will want to be there, as Modrić plays in his final World Cup at age 40.

But he will have to share the headlines, and not just with fellow veteran stars Mateo Kovačić and Ivan Perišić. Ghana has its own share of big names, including midfielder Mohammed Kudus and forwards Antoine Semenyo and Iñaki Williams.

2. France vs. Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq

Group I, June 22, 5 p.m.

Now for the easy part. France commands attention with star power and success. Kylian Mbappé led Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, and there’s every reason to believe they could make another deep run next year.

From reigning world player of the year Ousmane Dembélé to fast-rising youngsters Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, and Michael Olise — just a few of the many names that could go here — France has a depth of elite talent that almost no other national team can match.

They also have a national anthem in “La Marseillaise” that’s perfect for belting out from the stands, even on a hot summer evening.

Philadelphia will be treated to it all.

We’ll know which team France will face after the intercontinental playoffs in March. Bolivia hasn’t been to a men’s World Cup since 1994, when Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno played before becoming some of MLS’s first stars. Iraq hasn’t been on this stage since 1986.

From here, and from the view of many followers of soccer in North and Central America, there will be a soft spot for Suriname. Like Curaçao, the nation that’s officially in South America’s land mass has leveraged its Dutch connections to rise up Concacaf’s ranks.

The Natio are led by forward Sheraldo Becker, who played with Medford’s Brenden Aaronson in 2023-24 at Germany’s Union Berlin. He then moved to Spain, first at Real Sociedad and now at Osasuna.

1. Brazil vs. Haiti

Group C, June 19, 9 p.m.

The top pick was obvious, but just in case, here’s a little more juice for it. A few hours after the World Cup schedule was announced, this writer went to the Big 5 Classic and was asked by a few friends and colleagues about the games coming here.

The answer always started with Brazil, and every time it didn’t finish before that one word produced an amazed reaction.

That’s the power of the most decorated team in men’s World Cup history. The Seleçao’s five championships are the record, and they are the only team to play in every men’s World Cup there’s ever been. Philadelphia will be the 60th all-time city in which Brazil has played a men’s World Cup game.

Nor can any team match the nation’s history of superstars, from Garrincha to Pelé to the original Ronaldo — all wearing the eternal yellow-and-green jerseys.

The current squad didn’t always look good on the way to qualifying for this World Cup, but its talent is undeniable. Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães anchor the defense, Bruno Guimarães leads the midfield, and then comes the Carnaval: Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Raphinha, and the latest new phenom, Estêvão.

Now comes what might be the final piece of the puzzle, famed manager Carlo Ancelotti. He coached many of these players at Spanish club Real Madrid, and has the clout to make the big decisions necessary to pick the World Cup team.

What makes this specific game even better is Brazil’s opponent. Haiti is in its first men’s World Cup since 1974. Its vibrant diaspora across North America will flock to town, even if the Trump administration bans travelers from the nation itself.

Les Grenadiers also have two players with Philadelphia ties, Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques and Penn alumnus Duke Lacroix. As rare as it is to play in any World Cup, it’s even rarer to get a homecoming game on soccer’s biggest stage.